Wringer



N. L. ETTEN WRINGER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 23, 1945 LIN; m\ m 1W 9 Ruf 6 im Q @Wfl/ a .S mmm/, .w\ Q Y nwl om IH L Tf f wm, tu# lllll|lllllll|||||||||lllllllillll will? fw Ima; @w i||, l, l Il 1 I Q .w IIIIHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHI! Il. l l \f [VH1 l l 4wl|wWMm-l|M lllllllllllllll Fu ma ,N Nfl f fri." .-vl|l|||||||llllllm4rnmwlvwmv||ll|H||1 @NNW II all.IHHHHHHIIIINNHITIIVLWWIIIIHMLHMHIHHHHHHHHUH- -i s, :f Q T m G @T E r b w Q (L. HLH? n P l T Q V m/ I i N. L. ETTEN March 18, 1952 WRINGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 23, 1945 -m L. 3 @Y B O .w N@

March 18, 1952 N. L. ETTEN 2,589,354

WRINGER Filed Nov. 25, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

N. L. ETTEN March 18, 1952 WRINGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 25, 1945 INVENTOR. Melzo/a L Etten Patented Mar. 18, 1952 WRINGER Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,178

9 Claims. l

This invention is directed to a wringer embodying a tiltable wringer roll through the instrumentality of a newly designed roll mounting. One or more rolls of this construction mounted in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be incorporated into any type of wringer structure wherein it will function in the manner stipulated independently Yof any particular style or arrangement of Wringer construction. For the purposes of explaining one particular adaptation of the roll of the present invention mounted for tilting action, the same has been incorporated into a wringer structure of the kind shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 630,176 led of even date herewith. Reference to this structure will clarify details of the wringer illustrated although any wringer structure, conventional or special, will provide the proper means for the reception of a roll of the present design.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a roll mounting structure so arranged as to permit longitudinal tiltingof the associated roll while the wringer is in operation. Thus, the normal squeezing action of Icoacting wringer rolls are tensioned by suitable spring means to maintain such rolls in a predetermined pressure contact, adding thereto the normal resiliency of the rolls per se, is supplemented under normal wringer action by introducing one or more rolls that are tiltable relative to their normal axis of rotation thereby creating a quick adjustment of the rolls to bunching of clothes, preventing jerky or uneven separation of such rolls beyond a point of efficiency, and at the same time maintaining the necessary tension throughout the line contact between the wringer rolls when the same are acting upon clothes being fed therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is to incorporate the novel roll mounting means into the stationary roll or movable roll. In other Words, the new structure may be incorporated into the roll which normally rotates about a xed axis although such roll by such means is capable of tilting longitudinally with the roll axis deviating angularly from its normal axis of rotation. The same applies with the new structure embodied into the movable roll although the latter has an axis of rotation which moves bodily verticalrotational axis and the roll axis are adapted to relatively adjust themselves angularly under various conditions of operation as imparted by clothes acting upon the roll surface but carrying on such angular separation ofthe axes mentioned while at all times maintaining such axes intersecting at a predetermined point along the length of the roll. This always maintains the roll in a predetermined relation with respect to its cooperating wringer roll and also permits the roll axis to coincide with the rotational axis when the roll is in normal operative horizontal position. This action always, therefore, maintains the bite of the rolls in a definite relationship with respect to the wringer during all conditions of operation and at the same time permits the tilting of the roll described to carry 'on the equalizing and leveling-off function of the roll bite while clothes are being fed through the Wringer.

This wringer further embodies means for guiding the ends of the tiltable roll to maintain the latter in operative contact with the coacting roll by keeping the two rolls in a common vertical plane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such roll tilting mechanism in the form of universal means disposed normally centrally with respect to the length of the associated roll and to incorporate such means in either one of the two Wringer rolls whether such rolls are adapted for rotation upon a normal xed axis or for rotation upon a floating axis, such selection being governed mostly by the general construction and attributes of the Wringer generally.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide modified means for carrying out the tilting action of a roll in a Wringer structure t thereby illustrating various ways in which this invention may be applied to special or conventional wringers.

All other objects and advantages relating to the invention herein disclosed and described shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description thereof having reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the application of the invention and the manner in which the same may be applied and used in wringers.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general side elevational view of a wringer embodying a roll mounted according to the principles indicated in the objects above;

Fig. 1A is an end elevational View of the wringer taken from the right hand side of Fig. 1 to illustrate the relationship of the coacting wringer rolls and the guide mechanism for the tiltable wringer roll;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the central portion of the lower roll in Fig. 1 illustrating certain details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a general diagrammatic illustration of the roll structure illustrated in Fig. 1 to better show the principles of operation involved and clarifying the new features of the tiltable roll and its operation;

Fig. 5 is another diagrammatic illustration such as Fig. 4 showing, however, a modied arrangement of tiltable roll;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational View taken from the left hand side of Fig. 1, with parts broken away, illustrating a pressure applying, pressure release, and pressure reset mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the same character as Fig. 6, but illustrating the parts just prior to the completion of the pressure reset operation.

Fig. 8 is another diagrammatic showing of a wringer-roll structure depicting another arrangement that may be employed for supporting one of the rolls of a wringer for tilting movement relative to the other roll and the wringer structure;

Fig. 9 is another diagrammatic illustration of still a further modified arrangement which may bel provided to tiltably support one of the wringer rolls.

Although the wringer in Fig. 1 is better illustrated and described in my copending application, this structure will be briefly described to clarifythe mounting of the rolls. This wringer is provided with end plates I and 2 connected by tubing, such as 3, the plates carrying the vertical guide housings 4 and 5 for accommodating the roll bearings. The upper roll 5 is journalled in bearings i and S which are secured respectively to the shiftable brackets 9 and I to move directly therewith. Brackets S and I) are connected with link mechanisms generally indicated by numerals II and I2 which operate synchronously through connecting shaft means in the rear of the wringer but which has not been shown in Fig. l. The link mechanism II is suitably connected with a spring means I3, and the latter acting through the link mechanism II and the connecting shaft means at the rear side of the wringer and the link mechanism i2 is adapted for normally urging the brackets 9 and Ii) simultaneously downwardly to urge the roll 6 into operative line engagement with the lower roll Ill. Roll in this particular wringer structure moves in parallel shiftable relationship with respect to the roll I4.

The roll le in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 comprises the tiltable roll which is adapted to tilt upon its normal axis of rotation producing a roll bite together with roll 6 having a greater equalizing effect in conjunction with the resiliency of the roll rubber thereby carrying out swiftly and smoothly the clothes wringer operation.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, roll Ill is provided with a tubular sleeve I5 establishing a hollow core I5 through which a shaft I'I extends and projects outwardly from the ends of such tube I5. The ends I8 and I9 of shaft I'I are journalled in bearings 2i) and 2i suitably secured to the guide housings 4 and 5 thereby supporting shaft I'I for rotation upon an axis which is fixed with respect to the wringer structure. rThe shaft en'd I9 is extended as at 22 to provide a driving connection for rotating shaft Ii and the wringer rolls as will be understood from the following description.

The midpoint of roll lli is provided with a sleeve 23 secured to the tube i5 and a pin 2li is mounted with its ends carried within suitably aligned openings in the sleeve 23. A pair of bosses 25 and 26 provide additional bearing reinforcement for the pin 2li and also terminate substantially adjacent the outer surface of the shaft Il thereby centralizing shaft I'i at this point with respect to the hollow bore Iii as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Pin 24 also extends through an opening 2l provided in the central portion of the shaft Il, such opening flaring outwardly from the axial center of the shaft as illustrated in Fig. 2 but having its central or axial diameter portion 28 substantially of the same diameter as the pin 2e.

Rotation of shaft il therefore imparts driving torque to the roll i4 through the pin 2li to the sleeve 23 and subsequently or simultaneously to the tube I5 which carries the roll rubber. Whenever the roll Ili is in true horizontal alignment as shown in Fig. 1, the roll axis will coincide with the shaft axis. In the event roll I4 is tilted on its longitudinal axis with respect to the normal rotational axis of the shaft I'a', such tilting action occurs through the universal means illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 in View of the fact that the pin 2t can operate in the flared opening in such shaft. Furthermore, the driving torque is continuously transmitted through shaft Il to the roll It and consequently, by contact, to the upper roll e in a known manner.

Referring to Fig. 1, it should be noted that shaft Il has its greatest diameter at the universal fulcrum means that connects the shaft Il and the roll Id, and that the shaft I'I tapers outwardly to a reduced diameter at each end providing the bearing ends IB and I9. By so doing, the shaft I'I presents its greatest torsional and supporting strength at the center point thereof and also provides sufcient clearance toward its ends to ,accommodate the tilting of the roll It, thereby preventing the tube I5 from striking the shaft Il under all normal conditions of operation.

Fig. 4 illustrates the main elements described in Fig. l and also shows how the upper roll 5 moves vertically in parallel relation by means oi' the dotted lines 3G. Also, the longitudinal tilting action of the lower roll Ici into different. angular relationships in out-of-line positions apart from where the roll axis and shaft axis coincide is indicated by the dot and dash lines 3| and 32, respectively.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the rolls 6 and I4 have been interchanged and are here indicated as lia and ta. In this case, the roll ta revolves upon a fixed axis and comprises a driven roll connected with the wringer drive mechanism for driving the roll through aligned contact at the bite of the rolis. Furthermore, roll Ilia is tiltable in this arrangement and also is vertically movable in the same manner in which roll 6 operated in the structures of Figs. 1 and 4. It is believed that the operation of the roll structure in Fig. 5 is understood without further explanation thereof.

In the constructions shown and described it is desirable to maintain the tiltable roll operating in a vertical plane common to both rolls to efficiently carry out the wringing function. This may be accomplished in various ways, and one arrangement for carrying out this vertical amasar guiding action is disclosed in Figs. l and 1A, and this design or similar designs can be used with tiltable wringer rolls of the kind described.

In Figs. 1 and 1A the vertical guide housings 4 and 5 for the roll bearings I and 8 are each of strap iron construction forming a hollow cage and each cage is provided with inturned edges forming ways 85 and 86 facing each other as best seen in Fig. 1A. Guide brackets 8l and 88 positioned as shown in Fig. 4 with bracket 88 better illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1A, each have fore and aft staggered fingers 88a and 88h ar ranged to straddle the ways 85 and 86 and are slidably mounted in this fashion upon the ways for vertical movement. Each bracket has -a flanged opening 89 therein, such opening being somewhat elongated vertically for clearance purposes. Y

The tubular sleeve I5 projects beyond the ends of the roll I 4 and rides within the openings 69 in the guide brackets 8l and 88, respectively, the openings 69 being of a width substantially equal to or slightly larger than the outside diameter of the roll sleeve I5. Thus, the ends of the tiltable roll can move vertically with respect to the brackets and 5 but are substantially held against movement laterally out of the vertical plane common to both of the wringer rolls 6 and Iii.

Therefore, in general, the present invention provides a means in a wringer having rolls suspended for operation between fixed bearings and movable bearings wherein one of the rolls is carried for tiltable action with respect to one of the sets of bearings to obtain the equalizing action which is quick and eicient in leveling ofi hunched clothing augmenting the normal spring urged squeezing action of the wringer rolls together with the normal resiliency of the rubber surfaces of such rolls.

rihe pressure applying, release and resetting means are more fully disclosed, described, and claimed in my aforesaid copending application. These means are best illustrated in the instant case in Figs. 6 and '7.

Referring now to these gures, as well as Figs. 1 and 1A, it will be seen that pressure is applied to the rolls by a linkage system mounted on the outer face of the end plate I and a lesser linkage system on the outer face of the Iend plate 2 at the opposite end of the wringer, these being the link mechanisms generally indicated by numerals II and I2. Such linkage system includes a pair of arms 90 and 9| bothof which are flxedly connected to a cross shaft 92 extending the length of the wringer. The other end of the link or arm 9e (Fig. 6) is pivoted as at 93 to the aforesaid bracket 9 supporting the bearing 'i' for the upper roll 6, the pivotal connection acting through a suitable slot 94 in the end'plate I. Similarly, the link or arm 9| on the opposite end has its other end pivoted as at 95 to the aforesaid shiftable bracket I6 carrying the bearing 8 for the upper roll 5, this linkage connection acting through a suitable slot 96 in the bearing plate 2 as seen clearly in Fig. 1A. Obviously, when the link 96 is moved clockwise as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the link 9| must be moved counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 1A, and the upper roll is urged downwardly against the lower roll.

Pressure is applied to the arms 90 and 9| by means of a spring carrying linkage system on the end plate I as seen in Figs. 6 and '7. A pair of spaced links 9'I and 98 are provided at one end to the end plate I as at 99 and |00, respectively.

6 The link 08 is of channel shape and to the outer wall of this channel shape link 98 one end of a transversely extending link IUI is pivoted. At its outer free terminus this link IOI carries a fixed spring seat washer |02. A similar link |03 is pivoted at one end to the free end of the link 91 and at its outer and free terminus this link carries a xed spring seat washer |04. Surrounding both links |0I and |03 and bearing against the spring seat washers |02 and |04 is the coil pressure applying spring generally indicated by numeral I3. The links IOI and |03 are substantially parallel and are free to move substantially lengthwise relatively to each other inside the spring I3 in accordance with variations in spring pressure.

Since the link 98 is prevented from counterclockwise movement as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 by a latch means to be later described when pressure is applied, the spring I3 bearing against the xed Washer |04 tends to urge the linkvS'I clockwise and by means of a link |05 pivotally connected to one end of the link 97 and at the other end to an extension |06 on the aforesaid arm 90, tends to force the arm clockwise as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 to apply pressure to the wringer rolls as above described.

As seen best in Fig. 6, the parts are held in pressure applying position by means of a latch arm |01 which is provided with a tapering latch engaging nose |68 the flat end of which engages an extension in the form of a latch |09 on the inner part of the channel-shaped link 98. These parts are held engaged, of course, by the action of the spring I3 urging the link |0| and consequently the link 98 to the left as viewed in Figs.

c and '1. Pivoted to the nach arm m1 adjacent the latching end thereof is a roller ||0, the shank of`which operates in an inverted L shape aperture or slot I I I in the end plate I. The other end of this latch arm |01 is pivoted as at II2 to an intermediate part of an arm ||3 in turn pivoted as at II4 to the end plate I. This arm H3 is integral with an angularly disposed reset lever II5, and the arm II3 also carries an abutment IIB the outer end of which is visible in Figs. 6 and 7 and which extends inwardly at right angle to arm II3 to bear against the latch arm Il' when the reset lever is pushed downwardly to the position seen in Fig. 6. With the parts in this position as seen in Fig. 6, the lever 98 is prevented from moving counterclockwise, and the pressure of the spring I3 is to the right to actuate the arm 90 and consequently the arm 9| on the opposite side of the wringer clockwise to exert pressure on the rolls.

Pressure release is effected in times of emergency by a pair of inverted U-shaped rockable frames II'I and II8 seen clearly in Figs. 1A, 6 and '7. The frame I I'I is pivoted to the end plate I near the bottom thereof as at II9 and to the opposite end plate 2 as at |20, while the frame I I8 is similarly pivoted to the plate I as at I2I, and

to the end plate 2 as at |22. The two frames are connected together for simultaneous movement by a cross link |23 whereby either frame II'I or II8 may be pushed or pulled to eiect pressure release. This pressure release is effected by a hook I2s carried by one of the end members of the frame II8. As seen clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, especially Fig. 7, the hook has a recessed upper portion defined by converging edges to form a notch |25 in which the aforesaid roller |I0 may seat when the parts are in pressure applying position. Any movement of either frame IIl or 7 ||8 inwardly or outwardly causes a portion-of the hook |24 to elevate the roller Il!) into the upper portion of the slot I as seen in Fig. 7, and thus elevate the nose |08' of the latch arm It? out of engagement with the latch lili)v on the link 98. Very little movement is requireduto disengage these latch elements, and permit the link 98 to swing counterclockwise, releasing pressure on the rolls. This results in a very minute upward movement of the reset lever l l5 from its position in Fig. 6 which upward movement is far less than this lever must be moved to reach the position seen in Fig. 7.

When it is desired to reset the pressure, it is a simple expedient to move the reset lever H5 first counterclockwise to a position beyond that seen in Fig. 7. This permits a coiled spring |26 acting against the link 98 to move the linkage element clockwise sunciently to permit the nose |08 of the latch arm |61 to engage behind the latch |09 on the link S3, this spring |26 being effective for this purpose when the spring I3 is not exerting pressure. Such initial engagement is seen in Fig. 7. Then, downward pressure on the reset lever |15 causes the lug H6 to engage L the latch arm |65?, and force this latch arm to a slightly over-center position seen in Fig. 6 se that pressure isv again applied to the rolls.

Other changes and modifications may be made in the structuresy disclosed and described without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to the exact form, parts, or combination of elements herein disclosed and described excepting insofar as the same shall be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims directed thereto.

What I claim is:

l. In a wringer, a rst wringer roll, bearing means arranged to support said wringer roll for normal rotation upon an axis, a second wringer roll, and second bearing means arranged to support said second wringer roll for rotation upon a oating axis, said first roll bearing meansl including a drive shaft, and fulcrum means inter posed between said drive shaft and said first roll to allow the latter roll to tilt endwise.

2. In a wringer, a first wringer roll, bearing means arranged to support said wringer roll for normal rotation upon an axis,V a second wringer roll, and second bearing means arranged to support said second wringer roll for rotation upon a floating axis, said first roll bearing means in cluding a drive shaft, and fulcrum means interposed between said drive shaft and said first roll to allow the latter roll to tilt endwise, said first roll and said drive shaft having coacting means cooperating to transmit the drive from said shaft to said tiltable first roll.

3. In a wringer, a first wringer roll, bearing means arranged to support said wringer roll for normal rotation upon an axis, a second wringer roll, and second bearing means arranged to supn port said second wringer roll for rotationupon a floating axis, and releasable tension mechanism connected with said second bearing means to normally urge said second wringer roll toward said rst wringer roll, said first roll bearing means including a drive shaft, and fulcrum means interposed between said drive shaft and said first roll to allow the latter roll to tilt endwise while under pressure from said tension means.

4. In a wringer, a bodily shiftable wringer roll, and a second wrnger rolly coacting therewith, said second wringer roll having means arranged to support the same for endwise tilting comprising a drive shaft mounted forl rotation upon a fixed axis and projecting through said second roll, and a fulcrum unit carried by said shaft and connected'with said second roll inter mediate the ends thereof to allow said latter roll to tilt relative to the axis of said shaft.

5. In a wringer, a bodily shiftable wringer roll, and a second wringer roll coacting therewith, said second wringer roll having means arranged to support the same for endwise tilting comprising a drive shaft mounted for rotation upon a fixed axis and projecting through said second roll, and a fulcrum unit carried by said shaft and connected with said second roll intermediate the ends thereof to allow said second roll to tilt relative to the axis of said shaft, said fulcrum unit and said second roll having coacting means to transmit the driving torque from said shaft to said second roll independently of the tilting of that roll.

6. In a wringer, a bodily shiftable wringer roll, a second wringer roll coacting therewith, said second wringer roll being hollow and having fulcrum means arranged to support the same for bodily tilting movement on its long axis and relative to the shiftable wringer roll, said fulcrum means comprising va drive shaft extending through said hollow second roll, bearings supporting the ends of said shaft, and universal mechanism carried upon said shaft and connected with the midpoint of said hollow second wringer roll, said universal mechanism includr ing coacting parts on said second wringer roll and said drive shaft respectively to transmit the driving torque directly from said shaft to that roll.

'7. A tiltable mechanism for longitudinally tilting a wringer roll having a shaft adapted for mounting in wringer bearings, said mechanism comprising fulcrum means interposed between said shaft and said roll consisting of a pin connected with the roll, and said shaft having an aperture therein to receive said pin, said aperture being substantially of pin diameter centrally of the shaft and aring outwardly toward the surface of the shaft to permit rocking of the pin relative to the shaft and tilting of the wringer roll.

8. A tiltable mechanism for longitudinally tilting a wringer roll having a shaft adapted for mounting in wringer bearings, said mechanism comprising fulcrum means interposed between said shaft and said roll consisting of a pin connected with the roll, said shaft having an aperture therein to receive said pin, said aperture being substantially of pin diameter centrally r of the shaft and iiaring outwardly toward the surface of the shaft to permit rocking of the pin relative to the shaft and tilting of the wringer roll, and means disposed between said wringer roll and said shaft to maintain the wringer roll axis coincident with the shaft axis at said fulcrum mechanism.

9. In a wringer, a main frame, a first wringer roll, fixed bearings to support said wringer roll, a second wringer roll, support bearings for said second wringer roll, guide means on said frame for said second roll support bearings to allow said latter roll to ride toward or away from said rst roll, means interposed between one of said rolls and its connected bearings to allow said one roll to tilt bodily and independently of its supporting bearings, and shiftable brackets carried 9 upon said guide means and coactng with said `Number tiltable roll to cmqrfne` the tilting movements of 970,317 the latter to a predetermined pla-ne of operation. V1,162,700 NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 'kl-2,210,657

v 5 REFERENCES CITED 1 Number The followmg references are of record in the 45 181 le of this patent:V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 35,335 VangA'uken 4 May 20, 1862 10 Name Date Firth f-- Sept. 13, 1910 Lamoureux Nov. 30, 1915 Etten Aug. 6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Nov. 25, 1910 

